Buckeyes Have A Tough, But Navigable Road
March 14, 2012Cavaliers Shouldn’t Alter Rebuilding Path for the Sake of Making the Playoffs
March 14, 2012I know a lot of people are frustrated with the Browns today as free agents get signed in places like Washington, Buffalo, Tampa Bay and elsewhere. The Browns are estimated to have $17.4 million plus the $1.6 million in awarded money from the Redskins and Cowboys penalties. It is one thing to hear $19 million and it is quite another to try and understand how the Browns are as bad as they have been and yet aren’t tops in the NFL in terms of salary cap space. So I went and did the best I could to figure out the 2012 cap figures for Browns players just to get a feel for how this team is built financially.
Just a couple of disclaimers. Piecing together salary cap info that is 100% accurate is nearly impossible unless you work in the league offices. I took some liberties pro-rating signing bonuses and estimating other bonuses in certain cases. Still, even if my margin of error is 5% it should still be educational to see just where all the money is. Also, I filled up the end of the roster with any old guys who are making around league minimums in order to get the roster size up to 55 which it would be for the regular season.
In the end, with my estimating I got the Browns salary cap in 2012 to be just north of $105 million which gives them just over $15 million in salary cap room. That means in all my estimating I ended up being a couple million high over the course of the roster.
Estimated | ||||
NAME | POS. | AGE | Experience. | 2012 Cap Number |
Thomas, Joe | OL | 27 | 5 | 12,500,000 |
Rubin, Ahtyba | DL | 25 | 4 | 9,375,000 |
Haden, Joe | DB | 22 | 2 | 8,165,505 |
Steinbach, Eric | OL | 31 | 9 | 7,428,571 |
Jackson, D’Qwell | LB | 28 | 6 | 6,200,000 |
Brown, Sheldon | DB | 32 | 10 | 5,366,667 |
Gocong, Chris | LB | 28 | 6 | 5,012,500 |
Fujita, Scott | LB | 32 | 10 | 4,316,000 |
Dawson, Phil | K | 37 | 13 | 3,800,000 |
Wallace, Seneca | QB | 31 | 9 | 3,000,000 |
Watson, Benjamin | TE | 31 | 8 | 2,880,000 |
Moore, Evan | TE | 27 | 3 | 2,868,750 |
Mack, Alex | OL | 26 | 3 | 2,403,000 |
Mitchell, Jayme | DL | 27 | 6 | 2,400,000 |
Jackson, Brandon | RB | 26 | 5 | 2,250,000 |
Taylor, Phillip | DL | 23 | 0 | 2,100,000 |
Young, Usama | DB | 26 | 5 | 2,000,000 |
Greco, John | OL | 26 | 4 | 1,500,000 |
Cribbs, Joshua | WR | 28 | 7 | 1,438,000 |
Sheard, Jabaal | DL | 22 | 0 | 1,272,500 |
Maiava, Kaluka | LB | 24 | 3 | 1,190,000 |
Ward, T. J. | DB | 25 | 2 | 1,008,750 |
Massaquoi, Mohamed | WR | 25 | 3 | 815,000 |
Hardesty, Montario | RB | 25 | 2 | 740,000 |
Ventrone, Ray | DB | 29 | 6 | 734,000 |
McCoy, Colt | QB | 25 | 2 | 727,750 |
Lauvao, Shawn | OL | 24 | 2 | 714,250 |
Little, Greg | WR | 22 | 0 | 706,250 |
Hodges, Reggie | P | 30 | 5 | 650,000 |
Benard, Marcus | DL | 26 | 3 | 615,000 |
Cameron, Jordan | TE | 23 | 0 | 576,750 |
Marecic, Owen | FB | 23 | 0 | 567,500 |
Gronkowski, Dan | TE | 27 | 3 | 540,000 |
Ogbonnaya, Chris | RB | 25 | 2 | 540,000 |
Daniels, Stanley | OL | 27 | 2 | 540,000 |
Williams, Eddie | FB | 24 | 2 | 540,000 |
Mitchell, Carlton | WR | 23 | 2 | 518,363 |
Sanford, Brian | DL | 24 | 2 | 500,000 |
Hagg, Eric | DB | 22 | 0 | 476,250 |
Stephens, Emmanuel | DL | 25 | 1 | 450,000 |
Paxson, Scott | DL | 29 | 2 | 415,000 |
English, Auston | DL | 25 | 1 | 415,000 |
Lewis, Thaddeus | QB | 24 | 1 | 415,000 |
Windsor, Rod | WR | 26 | 1 | 415,000 |
Wolfert, Jeff | K | 26 | 1 | 415,000 |
Pinkston, Jason | OL | 24 | 0 | 415,000 |
Skrine, Buster | DB | 22 | 0 | 415,000 |
Alford, Dominic | OL | 24 | 0 | 415,000 |
Dockery, James | DB | 23 | 0 | 415,000 |
Jacobs, Benjamin | LB | 23 | 0 | 415,000 |
Robertson, Craig | LB | 24 | 0 | 415,000 |
Shaw, Jarrod | OL | 24 | 0 | 415,000 |
Sims, David | DB | 25 | 0 | 415,000 |
Smith, Armond | RB | 25 | 0 | 415,000 |
Smith, Brian | LB | 23 | 0 | 415,000 |
Spears, Quinton | LB | 23 | 0 | |
Spencer, Owen | WR | 24 | 0 | |
Tripp, Kiante | DT | 24 | 0 | |
Yount, Christian | LS | 23 | 0 |
Some interesting notes. Of the major players under contract, twelve of them are set to come off the books for 2013 to the tune of about $26 million. So, if the Browns go into next season near or below the salary cap they will have $26 million coming off the books already. That includes Sheldon Brown, Scott Fujita, Phil Dawson, Ben Watson, Jayme Mitchell, Josh Cribbs, Brandon Jackson, Kaluka Maiava, Mohamed Massaquoi, Ray Ventrone, Reggie Hodges, and Dan Gronkowski.
Out of that list of players, it would be nice if the Browns had incentive to keep Josh Cribbs, Brandon Jackson, Kaluka Maiava and maybe (maybe) Mohamed Massaquoi.
What does this mean for building a team? Well, the Browns have the 4th pick and the 22nd pick this year. A.J. Green was the 4th pick a year ago and his cap number for 2012 is probably around $4.5 million. Colts offensive lineman Anthony Costanzo was the 22nd pick a year ago and his 2011 cap number was about $2 million. Right there you can chop $7 million off the cap for two guys who should become important starters for the team.
In addition the Browns have the 4th pick in the second round and will have to have roughly one million available per year for that pick. Add in the rest of the rounds and the Browns need to have somewhere north of $10 million available in cap space just to sign their draft picks.
Yes there is other flexibility if the Browns decide to restructure someone or cut a veteran, but not tons and tons. The next time you think the Browns should sign career #2 receiver Pierre Garcon for $42 million over five years, keep this in mind. The Browns also want enough room to consider bringing back Peyton Hillis, re-signing Dimitri Patterson and hopefully finding a right tackle and/or defensive end.
Sorry to say folks, but this rebuild is still over a year away as the Browns continue to load up in the draft and wait out contracts to turn the roster over. As far as free agency goes, it doesn’t really seem like the Browns are sold on Flynn, so don’t expect them to sign any free agents for much more than the Brandon Jackson $2.5 million level at most.
51 Comments
The other thing to keep in mind with salaries is in a couple of years Alex Mack’s and Joe Haden’s rookie contracts will expire in back-to-back years meaning they (hopefully) will be in line for pay raises and the Browns have to keep that in the back of their minds while structuring contracts this year and in the future. It’s not just a one-year thing.
Having older guys come off the books will help offset those potential increases, but it’s something that needs to be remembered.
That’s another reason why free agency can be dicey, teams often end up making incoming free agents the highest paid player on the team, which puts things out of wack; I’d rather see the Browns reward their players that are deserving than give big bucks to a player to reward them for how well they played for their previous team.
Good job, Craig.
Wow, starting with Stanley Daniels, there’s only about three names on the rest of the list that I recognize.
Wow if you follow the $ no wonder the offence is so bad.
Good analysis. Thanks.
Required reading for wrist-slitting Rizz and Chiwawa Hammer
Nerd alert: if you are eventually adding in the top 3 rookie deals, you should probably subtract the 3 bottom roster guys that took you to 55… Meaning your number is about 1.2 million too high.
This is a great article, though.
It’s all about the Benjamins…not championships!!!!
In related news the Browns will be spending some of that money to pay someone to help Tom Heckert pick better shirts.
So, the Browns must do all they can to stay within the cap in order to keep the nucleus of their four win team together. Really? We only need to re-sign a center next year.
Going into this FA i would have Cut Fujita and Sheldon Brown and restructured Steinbach to clear cap space. Then sign at least two (and possibly three) younger free agents who could start at either RT, WR, DE or LB. Draft Claiborne to replace Brown. Unfortunately there seems to be no quick fix at QB this off-season unless Flynn is signed and is better than most of us think.
There were good reasons why we should have made these moves this year; a) there is/was a good crop of FA’s b) next year teams will be force to fill up cap space so free agency is likely to be very competitive c) teams that have to fill up cap space will re-sign their own players, which dilutes next year’s FA’s d) with all this cap space freeing up next year who are we going to spend it on? e) this team needs to start winning some games NOW f) job security is always a concern with an owner like Lerner who may decide to clean house if the pressure builds after another disastrous four win season g) I’ll lose my mind if we have another four win season (and then still can’t improve at QB)
Unless magic happens in the draft, I think our Front office has miscalculated and next season could get very ugly.
OK Craig keep defending them. Does WFNY get paid by the Browns? We were told they would try to resign Hillis and they would try to find a WR and other players in FA. This is ridiculous.
Tom Heckert is the worst-dressed GM in the last generation of Cleveland sports executives.
A. They have tried to re-sign Hillis. I won’t blame the Browns if they don’t want to over pay a often injured head case.
B. Who from the Browns said they would sign a FA WR?
C. I must have missed when free agency ended. It’s too bad they wont be able to have anymore opportunities to improve the Browns.
First: Craig, thanks for the sanity-check breakdown. Appreciated.
Now, I agree that we need to do something with some of our over-priced vets. It is tough to know exactly how much of their contracts are guaranteed and what the exact cap-hit of cutting them would be. But, up for discussion would be:
Steinbach – coming back from injury, paid too much for his age, for $7mil I’d rather go pay Grubbs or Winston at this stage (and I like Steiny)
Fujita – lost his starting spot in my mind (Gocong played better once the SOLB). his salary is at a starting LBer salary.
Sheldon Brown – I would definitely try to restructure his contract to a lower term. Unless we can find another CB to take his place (but there are always premiums on CBs).
Seneca Wallace – would not be surprised if he was a cap casualty and we drafted Nick Foles or Coleman in rd3 or 4.
Jayme Mitchell – doubtful we would cut him, but we might try to get a lower number.
“So, the Browns must do all they can to stay within the cap in order to keep the nucleus of their four win team together. Really? We only need to re-sign a center next year”
Awesome! Ya know I wasn’t in favor of trading up to #2 to possibly draft Griffin but I’m having second thoughts now, oh wait, nevermind I’m a day late and a dollar short just like the good old Cleveland Browns.
Reportedly Lerner’s other futbol team lost a reported $85M last year. Way to go Randy! I hope Al was cremated, for his sake, otherwise the tunnel he’d be digging might be to the center of the Earth already.
Worse than Phil Savage? That’s high praise indeed.
KILEY AND BOOMS SAID THEY’D GET FREE AGENTS!
TONY RIZZO SAID THEY’D GET FREE AGENTS!!
AREN’T THEY RUNNING THE TEAM!?!
AAGHHH I NEED FREE AGENTS NOW!!
I believe Shurmur himself said they would be looking to sign one in free agency.
On top of that the Cavs, while still rebuilding, are a game out of the playoffs and the Indians at least put together a respectable team. What will be the Browns excuse this year?
On top of that the Cavs, while still rebuilding, are a game out of the playoffs and the Indians at least put together a respectable team. What will be the Browns excuse this year?
Also just because Craig writes “the other side of the mirror” post which very mathematically explains as to why you did not see any first day FA splashes (which Heckert pretty much stated we wouldn’t see) doesn’t mean he is defending them.
He is simply trying to put the realistic business of the NFL in perspective.
Also just because Craig writes “the other side of the mirror” post which very mathematically explains as to why you did not see any first day FA splashes (which Heckert pretty much stated we wouldn’t see) doesn’t mean he is defending them.
He is simply trying to put the realistic business of the NFL in perspective.
The point is that many of the best free agents (like at WR) are signed early. And the other point is that many people disagree with Heckert’s apparent opinion that free agency is to be avoided almost comletely.
There is a large area between Dan Snyder and doing nothing.
The point is that many of the best free agents (like at WR) are signed early. And the other point is that many people disagree with Heckert’s apparent opinion that free agency is to be avoided almost comletely.
There is a large area between Dan Snyder and doing nothing.
THE CAVS ARE CURRENTLY THE SAME 8 GAMES UNDER .500 AS THE BROWNS FINISHED.
seriously though, the Cavs are a .400 team. that equates to the Browns winning 6.5 games (which should be about the Vegas O/U line)
I have hope for the Tribe, but alot has to go right.
THE CAVS ARE CURRENTLY THE SAME 8 GAMES UNDER .500 AS THE BROWNS FINISHED.
seriously though, the Cavs are a .400 team. that equates to the Browns winning 6.5 games (which should be about the Vegas O/U line)
I have hope for the Tribe, but alot has to go right.
whoa, there. First of all, do we know how Kokinis dressed?. I’m not sure he was ever out of his pj’s, all we heard about him were some vague references by Mangini. If he was ever in Berea that may be his shirt Heckert is wearing, left over after the Lew Merlotti strip search and walk of shame.
Also, in that shirt Heckert now looks even more like my plumber, this time on vacation. And I’m ok with that; my plumber knows a lot about foorball.
whoa, there. First of all, do we know how Kokinis dressed?. I’m not sure he was ever out of his pj’s, all we heard about him were some vague references by Mangini. If he was ever in Berea that may be his shirt Heckert is wearing, left over after the Lew Merlotti strip search and walk of shame.
Also, in that shirt Heckert now looks even more like my plumber, this time on vacation. And I’m ok with that; my plumber knows a lot about foorball.
Tell me which WR you would have liked signed at the cost he was signed for?
Tell me which WR you would have liked signed at the cost he was signed for?
How is it the Redskins and Eagles can sign whoever they want at whatever price they want and not be in cap trouble? Yet our roster looks like this and we wouldn’t be able to sign any high priced guy if we wanted to. I realize we have to overpay people to get them to come here, but this is ridiculous.
I am not saying I would have. I am simply saying that a front office should at least be active – use the SB winning coach we have as president and try to sell players on coming here.
Right now for example I would be talking to Winstin, and would have talked to Nicks, and be at least talking to every single WR – we need one obviously. Meachem was signed for a somewhat reasonable deal – but with a better team of course.
Lets remember – simply being active does not require signing overpriced FAs.
How has that Redskin blueprint worked for them during the Snyder years? And I must have missed the Eagles amazing run through the playoffs last year. Seriously, why are fans always ignoring the good, stable, proven franchises and their way of building Super Bowl winners? Emulate the Packers, Giants and yes, even the Steelers. Following the Skins will only lead to disaster.
Mark by no means am I saying that we should follow them. Seriously I love the Packers and the Steelers way. I am just trying to figure out how they pay all this money to these guys and stay under the cap?
Yeah, that’s what I was thinking, and the skins start out minus $18 million from “Cap-gate”. How is it that they can sign RGIII and Garcon, plus have money to cover the rest of their roster (which is overpaid because Snyder is a moron)?????
they traded their 2nd rounder to clear cap space 🙂
they had $31mil – $18mil = $13mil.
Garcon avg. $8mil
Morgan avg. $2mil
RGIII will be ~$5mil
So, they either plan on some more restructuring (possible) or they pushed more of Garcon’s contract to future years (likely – which might be why they guaranteed 1/2 of it). or both.
And today Tampa Bay signs Nicks as well (won’t mention E. Wright). V Jax and Nicks!!!! And we got…. uhhh, we got, uhhhhh. Oh yeah, Alex Smith. I’m sick.
I didn’t think your list of FA wideouts signed at the price they were was going to be too long if existent at all.
People just keep commenting that they want Hecker to at least be “active” in calling people..
I just do not see the point in Heckert being “active” in contacting anyone he wasn’t interested in signing?
I agree with you in I would have liked to have seen a report that we have been in contact with Eric Winston or Mario Williams but I’m not going to blow a gasket that we didn’t overpay for Vincent Jackson or Pierre Garcon.
Nor am I. I just used WR as a quick example to make a point, perhaps I should have used OL.
Again what will be the excuse out of Berea? You have to admit the Cavs are rebuilding faster than anyone could have predicted.
Irving is better quicker than anyone imagined, yes.
Still, as noted, their current record would equate to 6.5 wins for the Browns. If the Browns win 6 games this year, then will you say they are rebuilding faster than anyone could have predicted?
TB had significantly more cap room than the Browns.
I hope you get over your illness.
I agree with cutting Fujita, but Gocong & Fujita were both starters. They would need a Fujita replacement, as I just don’t see Maiava as a viable option for the whole season.
If the Browns had the #1 & #4 overall this year like the Cavs did, I think we would all be quite happy with the progress.
Gil Haskell will be schooling this new coordinator in the finer points of fashion. He’s quite the Renaissance Man.
Didn’t you hear? they just signed Frostee Rucker! HAHAHAHAHAH! “The Factory” should be pretty empty this year, Stub Hub here I come! PSYCH!
You SUCK HECKERT!
Peyton Hillis cost $3 million for a year and you let him go!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? F*** off!
Rucker was added for depth, plus he is an upgrade over mitchell and great against the run, browns tried to resign hillis, offered him more than that earlier this year, he wanted a new start, cant blame heckert for that, also this isnt like the draft, you cant just pick a free agent and sign them, they have to want to sign and right now thats not easy to do, the impatience, stupidity, and ignorance of many browns fans i have seen on multiple sites is sad, let the guys who are paid to do this stuff do their jobs, cant expect years of screw ups to be fixed overnight
Gocong was a terrible WOLB. We need a WOLB with or without Fujita. Our defense was better w/o Scott.
I just dont get something, whats the point of keeping guys like sheldown brown, fujita, wallace, watson and jayme mitchell??
Can someone explain this to me? I mean last year Mitchell was beat by an undrafted rookie stephens, watson is on his last year, brown the same thing…..if the team assumes its building and that it is going to lose why dont they cut these guys and get rookies or experineced guys with 4 or 5 yeras in the tank?
Whats the point of keeping then here?
I mean Steve H and H are payd very well for waht they do, this FA has been until an absolute desert. Hiring that RDE od cincy for 21 million, man what a joke, i would prefer a rookie, and for that kinf of money we would get a solid player, not a rotational player. If things dont click this season for the browns H and H have to leave…
Wow. I found this to be a fantastic article. Unfortunately, I waste at least an hour a day reading about my beloved Brownies instead of being productive at work. This article is the best I’ve read in awhile. It shed some light on the subject of why we haven’t made a splash in free agency as well as cut quality players like Steinbach. Though frustraing, at least there seems to be some “method to Heckert’s madness.”